International Specialist Eye Centre (ISEC), Penang

This post is a shout out to my best friend who, after staying in UK since graduating from high school for 20 years, has finally returned to Malaysia. For many years, I would be in contact with Tsiang and she was always mentioning about her next exam as she studied medicine and then later on continued with her specialization there.

If you aren't already aware, there has been a severe brain drain from Malaysia but my friend and her husband Alan decided to do the opposite and come back home. Even though they are both Malaysian to the core, I’m sure this wasn’t an easy decision for them and it took years in preparation to migrate their young family back. I’m sure most Malaysians they meet now will ask them a bewildered, “Why come back to Malaysia??!“

So what are they doing back in Malaysia?

Tsiang and Alan are both eye specialists who were practicing in UK for years and have now set up the International Specialist Eye Centre (ISEC) branch in Penang. Yes, the branch of the famous ISEC that is operating in Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur.

See, I always thought that if you had problems with your eye, you just go and see an eye doctor. From what I understand, there are at least seven specializations just for the eye alone (wow!). So if I ever had any problems with my eye, I wouldn’t be comfortable going to a doctor who hasn’t been trained to look at that particular type of ailment in my eye. The doctor may know about it but I’d place my trust in a specialist anytime!

Tsiang and Alan specialize in different areas with some overlapping functions like cataract. (Okay, I know readers with medical background are cringing at my lack of proper jargons.) Their official titles are:
Alan: Consultant Ophthalmologist & Eye Surgeon, Vitreoretinal Surgeon
Tsiang: Consultant Ophthalmologist & Oculoplastic Surgeon, Paediatric Ophthalmologist & Strabismologist

All I know is that Tsiang looks at kids, corrects squints, droopy eyelids (yes, there is such a thing whereby you have to prop your eyelids open in order to see properly, usually for older folk) while Alan takes on retinal disorders. (Yes, their many hours of patiently explaining to me what they do has been whittled down to a short paragraph)

See Tsiang and Alan’s official profiles with proper descriptions of what they actually do.

International Specialist Eye Centre @ Penang
229G Jalan Burma, Georgetown, 10050 Pulau Pinang.
Tel: +6 04 228 8802      Fax: +6 04 228 8803
Official site: www.isec.my/locate_us_penang.htm
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It’s opposite the Him Heang main outlet in Jalan Burma, the refurbished Oh Eye clinic if you’re familiar with Penang landmarks.

So here’s wishing them well in their new clinic and new chapter of their lives!